Eastern Illinois had four players listed among the preseason players to watch as the OVC – Big South Football Association released its offensive players to watch for the 2025 season as part of its preseason information for the week.
 
The league will release its defensive preseason players to watch on Tuesday followed by the league's preseason predicted order of finish on Wednesday.  The OVC-Big South virtual football media day will then take place on Thursday.
 
Jay Pearson, Alex Herrera, Cooper Willman and Nic DiSanto were all featured on the offensive preseason players to watch list.
 
Pearson was a preseason selection at the running back position.  He came on late in the 2024 season as the top reserve running back for the Panthers.  He finished the season with 215 yards on the ground and a touchdown closing the season with a 63-yard effort on 11 carries at Tennessee Tech.  Out of the backfield Pearson caught six passes for 96 yards.  In addition he was a starter on special teams. 
 
Herrera was a preseason selection at tight end.   He played in only four games last season to use his redshirt season.  In those four games, Herrera made an impact on the Panthers offense hauling in 12 passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns.  He averaged 12.5 yards per catch for the season. 
 
Willman was a first team All-Conference selection last season at both wide receiver and all-purpose player.  He was listed on the preseason OVC-Big South list in both of those positions again.  At wide receiver he set the EIU single game record for receiving yards in a game with a 291-yard effort against Gardner-Webb on 11 catches with three touchdowns.  He ended the year with 66 receptions for 955 yards and eight touchdowns.  Willman served as the Panthers primary punt returner and handled kickoff returns late in the season. 
 
DiSanto was a preseason selection on the offensive line.  He started ten games last season missing two games due to injury.   He started at both left and right tackle during the season with much of his time played at the right tackle position blocking for a 3,000 yard passer during the season.
 
EIU opens the 2025 season on Thursday, August 28 hosting Dayton at O'Brien Field with a 6 p.m. start.  That will be the first of six home games this season with season tickets currently on sale at www.eiupanthers.com/fbtickets